The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka has called for investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings to continue without political interference, as fresh details emerged regarding a defamation case involving former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay.
Speaking at a media briefing held at the Archbishop's House in Colombo, Archdiocese of Colombo spokesperson Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando said questions surrounding the Easter Sunday attacks remained unresolved and warned against any attempt to obstruct ongoing investigations.
His remarks come amid heightened public scrutiny of Sallay following his detention by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and subsequent admission to the National Hospital in Colombo.
According to Ada Derana, Fr. Cyril disclosed that Sallay had previously approached him seeking an amicable settlement in a defamation case filed against the priest.
Fr. Cyril stated that after the first hearing of the case, Sallay approached him at the courthouse and indicated that the lawsuit had been initiated to protect his reputation rather than to create personal difficulties for him.
According to the priest, Sallay suggested that the matter could be resolved outside court.
Fr. Cyril said he then asked what conditions would be required for such a settlement.
According to his account, Sallay requested that references to his name be removed from statements previously made by the priest regarding matters connected to the Easter Sunday attacks.
Fr. Cyril said he rejected the proposal.
He maintained that he stood by his earlier statements and continued to believe them to be accurate.
The defamation proceedings stem from allegations raised by Fr. Cyril in relation to the Easter Sunday bombings. During previous online forums attended by members of the Sri Lankan diaspora, questions were raised regarding the role of intelligence agencies and allegations that state intelligence units may have provided financial and other assistance to extremist networks linked to the attacks.
Sallay subsequently lodged complaints against Fr. Cyril, resulting in several CID investigations and later legal proceedings.
The priest stressed that the civil lawsuit and the criminal investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks were separate matters.
He also rejected claims circulating on social media suggesting that recent developments involving Sallay were intended to influence or undermine the defamation case.
Fr. Cyril said significant questions remained unanswered regarding the bombings, including whether a wider conspiracy existed behind the attacks and who may have planned or orchestrated them.
He argued that uncovering the full truth was a fundamental right of the victims and their families.
“No political party or politician should interfere in these investigations in any way. Under no circumstances should these investigations be allowed to stop,” Fr. Cyril said.
The intervention comes at a politically sensitive moment, as opposition parties and supporters of Sallay have launched campaigns demanding his release and accusing the government of conducting a politically motivated investigation.
Sallay, who headed the State Intelligence Service under former Sri Lankan president and accused war criminal Gotabaya Rajapaksa, was arrested in February and remains under detention as investigations linked to the Easter Sunday attacks continue.
The Easter Sunday bombings, which killed more than 260 people and injured hundreds more in coordinated attacks on churches and hotels across Sri Lanka, remain one of the most consequential and controversial events in the island's recent history. More than seven years later, victims' families, the Catholic Church and civil society groups continue to demand answers over allegations of intelligence failures, political interference and the possibility of a wider conspiracy behind the attacks.